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2015 York Rally Report
So that was the York Rally 2015! The first revived Rally, organised by a new group of independent volunteers, took place on the 20-21st June 2015.
The 2015 website is archived here for future reference, and the 2015 Show Programme is available to download here as a PDF. Social media reactions to the 2015 event are collated here.
So how did we do?
After over a year of hard work and fundraising, it was gratifying that the return of the much-missed Rally was all that we’d hoped for and more!
We welcomed an estimated 3000 people to the Rally over the weekend, with 500+ on site camping. The whole event ran safely and without major incident, and we received some wonderful feedback on the friendly atmosphere.
Happily the 2015 event left the York Rally’s finances in healthy shape, boding well for the event’s sustainability. Many thanks to all who contributed so generously before and during the event!
We staged a record number (17) of ‘official’ rides, with groups of riders of all ages and abilities enjoying rides from under 5 miles to over 100. Huge thanks to all of the ride leaders and helpers!
Grass-roots enthusiasts from around the country staged splendid club displays of everything from historic cycles to futuristic HPVs.
The grasstrack arena hosted National Series racing, and also acted as the finish area for a very well attended Yorkshire Cycle-Cross Summer Series event! Many pictures here on the 2016 page.
Our Invention Convention attracted a wonderful collection of home built cycles and trailers, a pedal powered music system and more! It also included a visit over to York’s new velodrome, where visitors had a possibly unique opportunity to ride all sorts of bikes on the track. See the 2016 page for masses of pictures.
There was stomping live musical entertainment from the Foresters and Pretend Stage. Plus spellbinding talks from Roop Singh and Dave Barter. Pictures on the 2016 page…
Children’s activities included a drawing competition, cycling Punch and Judy, and of course family friendly rides and youth racing categories. Results here.
The Auction and Saddlebag Sale cycle jumble were both absolutely packed out with sellers and buyers… and will be back!
The Photography Competition was a huge success, with over 30 Rally-goers kindly contributing images for our future use to help promote the Rally. Click any thumbnail below to scroll through just some of the images from the 2015 event…
In the trade area at the York Rally 2015. Photo: Pat Douglass
Cyclo-cross at the York Rally 2015. Photo: Peter Eland
York Rally 2015 trade show. Photo: Dave Waldram
York Rally 2015: ride and service at St Matthew’s Church, Naburn. Photo: Dave Dodwell
Bo The Clown (boclown.com) entertains with his bicycle-trailer-based Punch and Judy show. Photo: John Jackson
JD Tandems in the trade area at the York Rally 2015. Photo: Peter Eland
Out on a ride at the 2015 York Rally: Photo Robert Johnstone
Enjoying the evening on site at the 2015 York Rally: Photo Robert Johnstone
Cyclocross at the York Rally 2015. Photo: John Jackson
Trying out a tall bike at the 2015 York Rally: Photo Pat Douglass
2015 York Rally. Photo: Peter Eland
Cyclo-cross at the York Rally 2015. Photo: Peter Eland
2015 York Rally. Photo: Peter Eland
Cyclocross at the 2015 York Rally. Photo: John Jackson
A ride over to York’s new velodrome gave visitors to the 2015 York Rally a unique opportunity to ride the track on ordinary bikes. Photo: Robert Johnstone
The 2015 Saddlebag Sale. Photo: Robert Johnstone
A visitor all the way from Germany had brought his home-built quad and trailer to the Invention Convention at the York Rally 2015. Photo: Malcolm Carline
A Rough Stuff Fellowship ride at the 2015 York Rally. Photo: Robert Johnstone
Outside in the trade area at the York Rally 2015. Photo: Pat Douglass
At the 2015 York Rally: Photo David Walsh-Kemmis
A quiet moment at the 2015 York Rally: Photo John Jackson
Grasstrack racing at the 2015 York Rally. Photo: Taras Melnyk.
National Clarion CC 1895 exhibiting at the York Rally 2015. Photo: Eddie Gouthwaite.
Club cyclists ride from miles around to visit the 2015 York Rally: Photo Liz O’Sullivan
A 1930s Mochet Velocar attracts an audience at the 2015 York Rally: Photo John Jackson
The Foresters play live at the York Rally in 2015. Photo: Malcolm Carline
York Rally 2015: ride and service at St Matthew’s Church, Naburn. Photo: Dave Dodwell
Cyclo-cross at the York Rally 2015. Photo: Peter Eland
Bo the Clown and his bicycle trailer based Punch and Judy act, 2015. Photo: Peter Eland
York cycle recycling charity Bikerescue had brought along this artbike to their stand at the 2015 York Rally: Photo Liz O’Sullivan
Local bike recycling charity Bikerescue had a busy stand in the trade area at the York Rally 2015. Photo: Pat Douglass
Volunteering at the 2015 York Rally. Photo: Chris Blenkarn
2015: On the York Rally campsite. Photo: Peter Eland
Outside in the trade area at the York Rally 2015. Photo: Malcolm Carline
The Foresters play live at the York Rally in 2015. Photo: Malcolm Carline
Trading at the 2015 York Rally. Photo: Angela Henderson
2015 York Rally: Photo Phillipa Whitworth
The 2015 Saddlebag Sale. Photo: Peter Herron
2015: On the York Rally campsite. Photo: TJ Alexander
Human-powered sound system “Ringo” was the centrepiece of the Invention Convention at the York Rally 2015. Photo: Pat Douglass
The 2015 Saddlebag Sale. Photo: Pat Douglas
2015 York Rally: Photo Phillipa Whitworth
A ride heads out from the 2015 York Rally, taking a cross-country shortcut to reach the traffic-free Sustrans route heading south: Photo Dave Waldram
Wheelbuilding in the trade area at the York Rally 2015. Photo: Paul Dunn
The York Rally 2015. Photo: Malcolm Carline
Vintage cycle displays, with expert enthusiasts on hand to explain, were a highlight of the 2015 York Rally: Photo Liz O’Sullivan
2015 York Rally: Photo Liz O’Sullivan
Camping at the 2015 York Rally. Photo: Mike Handley
Out on a ride at the 2015 York Rally, enjoying the traffic-free York-Selby bike path, which runs along the course of an odl railway: Photo Bob MacQueen
Racing recumbents were on display at the York Rally 2015 thanks to the British Human Power Club. Photo: John Jackson
Pick up a bargain bike at the Auction Sale, York Rally 2015. Photo: Pat Douglass
If you would like permission to use any of these images, or others which you find on this website, please contact our Press Officer. Permission is not usually a problem and we may well have higher resolution versions available.
A ride heads out at the 2015 York Rally. Photo: Peter Eland